Direction-signal for motor-vehicles.



F. G-AUTZSCH, JR. DIRECTION SIGNAL FOR MOTOR VEHICLES. APPLIGATIGN HLBD MAY 1o. ma,

l ,13(12, mme@ June 16,19%.

A :32 if /5 /f WHNESSES UNITED sTATEs rnTnnT orrior..

FREDERICK GAUTZSCH, JR., '0F PHILADELPHIA, IENNSYLVANIA.

DIRCT`ION-SYGNL FOB MOTOR-VEHICLES.

Speci''cation of Letters Patent. Patented June 16, 1914,

Application filed lMay 10, 1913. Serial No. 766,690.

To all wir om it may concern Be it known that l', FREDERICK GAUTZSCH, J r., a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, State '5 of Pennsylvania., have invented a new and useful Direction-Signal for Motor-Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to signal or indi# ating devices for use in connection with vehicles and has particular reference to such devices as applied to motor vehicles 'and the like.

1t has for an object to provide a signal or indicating device which will serve as a notice or warning to drivers of other vehicles of the intentions of the driver of the vehicle to which the said device is attached. Thus for example, if the vehicle by which it is carried violent vibrations or shocks received by the vehicle in passing over the highways.

1t further consists of other novel features of construction, all as will be hereinafter fully set forth.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention. I have shown in the accompanying drawings one form thereof which is at present preferred by me, since the same has been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which my invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that my invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of these instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a portion of a vehicle showing the signal mechanism embodying my invention in operative position thereon. Fig. 2 represents a vertical section of thecontrol mechanism for my novel signal device. Fig. 3 represents a section on line -:r vof Fig. 2. Fig. 4 repre'- sents a verticall section of the indicating por# tion of my signal mechanism'. Fig. 5 repreits a section on line flyjy of Fig.I 2. Fig. presents a side elevation 'of a modified n of indicating device.l

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the figures.

referring to the drawings, 1 designates the body of a vehicle such as an automobile or the like to which is secured the bracket 2 supporting the control mechanism for my signal indicating mechanism, the said bracket being mounted atany convenient point for the use of the operator of the vehicle. In the present instance, the bracket 2 is provided with laterally projecting ears 3 and 4 the former being provided with an opening 5 therethrough while the latter 'is provided with the opening 6.

7 designates loose ball members each of which is seated in a pocket or bearing cup 8 formed in the upper surface of 'the ear 3 and as here shown I have preferred to employ four of these ball members which are preferably arranged at 90 intervals with respect to each other and serve not. only as bearings for certain rotatable parts but also definitely lix the position of the signal'or indicating device.

9 designates a hand or operating lever having an apertured body-portion or 'collar 1() provided with countersunk recesses v11, which are arranged in the same relation to each other as are the ball members 7 and are adapted respectively to seat upon the said ll `all members, as 'will be apparent from 4ig. 2.

12 designates a sleeve lixed to the. body portion 10 by means of a screw 13 or like fastening device and mounted in the opening 5 of the ear 3, the arrangement being suchV that the sleeve projects a suitable distance below the said ear 3 and it will of course be understood that the said sleeve moves with and forms a part of the operating lever 9 and its adjuncts.

14 designates a tubular spindle mounted. within the sleeve 12 and extending at itssecured to the spindle 14 by means of the set screw 17, the said collar forming an abutment for one end of a springY 18, the opposite end of which bears against a tollower 19 on the base of ,the exterior casing Q0 which is rotatably retained between the ears 3 and 4l of the bracket 2. lt will he noted that the easing 20 is interposed between the ears 3 and 4 and serves to inclose and protect certain parts oli' the control mechanism.r lt will loe apparent Jfrom the. foregoing construction that the spindle 1li is supported directly by the spring 1S and is thereby relieved of shocks or jarsA transmitted from the vehicle body and, in Ytact7 the said spindle becomes substantially" a Heating' support. v j

` lllhen the screw 17 is loosened.` the collar 1G is released from the spindle 14, and said screw may be moved up and down in the slot let of the casing 20 relative to the spring 18 to adjust the position ot said spindle. rlhen sait` screw is tightened the collar being thereby clamped again to the spindle, when said collar and consequently the spindle ri es on said spring:

ln order to maintain. the lever bod;r 10 in correct operative relation to its zugljmicts.y l preferably employ a spring Q1 which is here shown as encircling a portion ot the sleeve 12 and bearing at. one end against the ear 3, while ils other end abats and is seated upon a collar 2Q secured to the said sleeve 12 by means et a set screw Q3 or like Vlastening device. ln order that the two collars 16 and 22 may be easily adjusted, l have provided a slot 24e in the casing' il() which slot'receives the set screws 17 and Q3, whereby the heads of the same are conveniently accessible, so as to be loosened by a suitable wrench so to release the collars and permit the latter to be adjusted in position. vafter which said screws are tightened and the collars retain their positions` It will be noted that the spring 18 which bears against the collar` 1G secured to the spindle 14` and the base et the casing* Q0, allows said spindle to vibrate up and down l and so yield to shocks, preventing the latter reaching;` and. injuringthe index finger, Awhile the spring` 21 which bears against the collar 20 secured to the sleeve '12, and 'the upper ear- 3, presses down the collar 1() and holds it on the balls 7 in either the raised or lowered position of said collar.

ln the present embodiment. of my invention the spindle 14 is extended vertically a vsutlicient distance to bringthe signal indieating, device above the top ot the vehicle in which position it may be easily seen and its position observed. This signal indicating device preferably comprises a easing 25 having the contour ot' an arrow and provided with a tubular boss 2G which is connected with the spindle 1st by means of a suitable coupling 27. As here shown, .the

coupling;` 2? means ot a set bolt 2t securel to the coupling; E37 by setting it in a suitable composition In the preferred embodiment ol'Y my invention, opposite sides oit the casing 25 are formed ot transiiaircnt material 3() while one end thereoit is also closed by a plaie ol transparent material 3l so that when the device is in use at night the incandescent lights lf2 contained within 'the casing Q5 will illuminate the signal and be. visible from all sides of the vehicle. The lamps l2 are connected in circuit by conductors which are carried through the hollow spindle 1l and terminate at a battery and switch box Ill; located on the dashboard within easy reach o1" the operator.

35 designates a flashlight in the same cir-- cuit with the lamps '2 which serves to indicate to the user ot the vehicle whether or not the lamps in the signal 21: are. lighted at the desired time. i

ln` Flr. G7 l have s a modified con struction wherein the il casini" is dispensed with and simpl;- an mat ina' device oit' arrow tori t. is ianplvvved upon which raided. ln this l which is 'l in which he minet fonplingf wn l pofdtion 'Avn in Fig: l e is suppe d to be moving; straight road. lrlnder these the iiitom'ioo o1" the on the right. the lever :s hrs; shifted in lired which action raises the body portion l0. se that the ball members are removed from the rec-es es 1l. The partial rotation of the lever l also rotates the spindle 14, since the parts are connected as already described by the sci jiecting into the slot lo and as soon a., ne lei-fer fl has been moved through the proper angle the. countersuuk recess 11 again come into alineincnt with the balls and the spring; Q1 causes the parte to snap into position which action of cour;l notities thv operator that the signal has reached the proper iosition. llence it will be seen that if the. vehicle is to turn to the ri jit the indicating dev-ice S25 will now be pointing to the right and visible both from the front and rear-'oli' the vehicle thus warning otl'iers ot the contemplated movement. t night the circuit for the lamps closed and -the sipna Y becomes an illuminated one which will indicate the direction the une as in the daytime. lt. will new be apparent that l' have de vised a complete unit-ary device rfor signal-- ingr purposes in connection with motor vei'irward conditions. itt it is Oil il l, l. O

moles or the like and embodying as a novel feature of the combination al floating mechanism tor carrying the indicating means, whereby the latter is not subjected to the shocks caused by irregularities in the road or causes of a like nature all of which in my novel construction are substantially absorbed by the spring mechanism carrying the signal spindle.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a device of the character stated, the combination of a bracket adapted to be secured to a vehicle body, a spindle rotatably mounted on said bracket, a signal device carried by said. spin dle, a collar provided with a lever having connection with said spindle for transmitting movement thereto, resilient means between said spindle and 'said bracket whereby said signal device is in substantially floating relation with said vehicle, ball bearings and locking devices interposed between said collar and bracket, andauxiliary resilient means for holding said collar movably in engagement with said ball bearings and locking devices.

2. In a device of the character stated, the

combination of a bracket adapted to be secured to a vehicle body, apertured ears carried by said bracket, one of said ears having a plurality of hemi-spherical recesses therein, balls in said recesses, a rotatable collar on said recessed ear, anoperating lever on said collar, the latter having a plurality of hemi-spherical recesses therein to receive said balls, resilient means for re taining said collar in contact with said balls, a spindle rotatably mounted in said ears, means to transmit movement of said lever to said spindle, a signal device carried by said spindle, and shock absorbingr means interposed between said bracket and said spindle.

3. In a device of the character stated, the combination of a bracket adapted to be secured to a vehicle body, apertured ears carried by said bracket, one of said ears having a plurality of recesses therein. a loose ball forming a bearing, and a locking device mounted in each recess, an operating lever, a collar thereon having recesses each to receive its respective balls. means to yieldingly maintain said collar in .contact with said balls, a spindle rotatably mounted in s aid ears, means to transmit movement of said collar to said spindle, a signal device carried by said spindle, shock absorbing means interposed between Vsaid bracket and said spindle, and means toilluminate said signal.

4. In avdevice of the character stated, the combination of a vertically disposed bracket adapted to be secured to a vehicle body, apertured ears carried by said bracket, a spindle rotatably mounted in said ears, a signal device mounted on said spindle, a rotatable collar on the upperA ear of. said' bracket, a. sleeve pendant from said collar, said spindle being freely' mounted insaid sleeve, abut ears, a vertically movable sleeve within said casing, a vertically movable spindle within said sleeve, separate abutments within said casing encircling respectively said sleeve and spindle, a collar above the upper ear, the same being connected withvsaid sleeve, said collar and upper ear having recesses therein, and balls freely occupying said recasses, and a plurality of springs in said casing, one of said springs resting on the upper'abutmenty and bearing against the upper ear, and the other spring resting on the base of said casing and bearing upwardly against the lower abutment. v

6, A bracket with ears on the terminals thereof, al casing interposed between said casing, a vertically movable spindle within said sleeve, separate abutments wit-hin said casing encircling respectively said sleevel and spindle, a collar above the upper ear., the. same being connected with said'sleeve, said collar and upper ear having recesses therein., and balls' freely occupying said recesses, and a plurality of springs insaid casing, one of said springs resting on the upper abutment and bearing against the upper ear,v and the other spring restingl on the base of` said casing and bearing upwardly against the lower abutment, said casing having a 'vertical slot therein, securing screws on said abutments, the same freely occupying said slot in the casing, saidspindle having a vertical slot therein, and a. securing screw on said collar, the same freely occupying said. slot in the spindle. A Y

7. In a direction signal of the character stated, a signal-carrying spindle, upper and lower bearings in which said spindle is freely mounted .in vert-ical direction, an abutment fixed to said spindle, .a Vresilier-.t device interposed between said abutment land one of said bearings of the spindle below.

`said abutment adapting said spindle to vi brate freely in vertical direction. ijn said bearings, al sleeve in which said spiridle is freely movable, an abutment on Said sleeve, means for supporting saidsleeve on the up` perbearing, and a resilient device inten posed between the lastima-med abutment and said upper-bearing and engaging the samen lGtl fire

l. ft

Stated, a signal calryng spindle, upper and ing against the saune, :1n abutment 0u Suid lower bearings n which said spindle is spindle, und :1 resilient device between Suid freely mounted in Vertical direction, :L collar abut-ment and the lower beau-ing for Suid l5 url'oundnlg said spindle, locking .members spindle,

1011 said colar supported en the u 3 Der beal'- 7,-' v ing of said Spindle, a Sleeve pengnt from v FhEDEhl'CK GAUV'I SCH JR said colla? adapted to encircle freely said 'Vtnesses: spindle, an abutment on said sleeve, a le- E. HAYWA'RD Fnnutmne,

, l0' silent device between said abutment and the C. D.. MCVAY.

8. n a direction signal of the character t said upper bearing for Said spindle beul?- 

